On October 11, 1996, KSU senior and BGLS secretary Jennifer
Bame submitted an editorial to the KSU Collegian for National Coming
Out Day 1996. Her positive reflection on being a lesbian prompted over
60 readers to send Jennifer letters of support.
Two KSU-Salina students, however, were outraged by the editorial and
wrote three very hateful and threatening email messages to Jennifer. As
a result, Jennifer sought the help of KSU's Dean of Student Life, KSU's
Student Attorney, the Riley County Police Department, and others.
Jennifer has received much support from KSU and Riley County. In response
to her unfortunate situation, BGLS co-faculty advisors Deb Taylor and Bob
Clark wrote KSU President Wefald, informing him of the incident and urging
him to review the Recommendations put forth in the 1994 "Report of
the Task Force to Study the Concerns of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students,
Staff, and Faculty" at Kansas State University.
On November 12th, Jennifer was informed by Susan Scott (Dean of Student
Life’s office) that the students were brought before an Academic Review
Board at KSU-Salina. The student who wrote the message threatening to "take
out" lesbigays lost his email account for the rest of the academic
school year. The other student was warned.
For more information, please follow these links:
Jennifer
Bame's October 11, 1996 editorial in the KSU Collegian
Hate (Email)
Letters by two KSU-Salina students to Jennifer Bame
Letter to President
Wefald from Deb Taylor and Bob Clark
Email note from
Dean Pat Bosco to Jennifer Bame
Letter from
Vice-President Bob Krause to Deb Taylor and Bob Clark
"Report
of the Task Force to Study the Concerns of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students,
Staff, and Faculty" at Kansas State University The
recommendations are posted.